Sigourney Weaver Warms Up

ComingSoon.net recently interviewed Sigourney Weaver about her upcoming role in Abduction.  The new film is a thriller that features Weaver with Twilight star Taylor Lautner.  You can link to the whole interview here: http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=82261.  I targeted this article, first because there is a little bit of information on the upcoming Ghostbusters film, which I am always looking for information on.  Besides that I was really drawn to her answer about warm-ups and improvisation.

I spent a good bit of time recently explaining the process of improvisation to some of my new student workers.  One of my favorite things about explaining improv is when I get to elaborate on how even improvisers who make everything up have rehearsal, and more importantly warm up to play their shows.  For most people the idea of practicing improv is an oxymoron, why practice something you just make up, and do you do, just hang out and make things up?  I really enjoy explaining that even though we are making everything up on the spot, there are lots of skills we utilize and need to practice which make our shows even better.

As improvisation we also have a large number of warm up games.  This is one of my favorite parts of improvisation; I could play improv warm up games all day long.  While this seems confusing to people, the best explanation I heard on why we play these games is they are like mental gymnastics to prepare for the cerebral work we will do on stage.  Improv warm ups also feature a way for us to separate ourselves for the everyday world that we live in and put us in the space to perform on stage.  Everyone brings their day, their troubles, and to do lists to the stage, the warms up allow us to shake that off and prepare for the fun to be had.

Warming up is something people should do in all situations.  I love how Sigourney Weaver commented that she does warm ups before she acts in a scene, and the importance of doing those warm ups in all aspects of life.  Whenever you are getting ready to give a presentation, make a pitch, or perform a large scale important task, it is important to get your mind into the right space, so you can easily perform at your highest level in the moment.  Enjoy the section below of Sigourney Weaver’s interview with ComingSoon.net.

Coming Soon: Do you employ in your film roles the same warm-ups you would before going on a live stage?
Sigourney Weaver: I do. I warm up and do a lot of work on my breathing and relaxation. I think relaxation is probably the key to doing anything. I think it’s especially true for actors. I love to watch jazz performers and see how they’re open to anything at any second. That, to me, is a very good metaphor for acting.

CS: Does that lead to improvisation in the scene?
Weaver: Yes, but it depends on the movie and the specific feel of the scene. And some of the actors don’t really like to do it.

CS: What about this one?
Weaver: On this one, I think we kept pretty close to the script. I think I changed a few things to maybe make them more direct. But I don’t have a lot of scenes and I think I enjoyed the balance between the nurturing scenes at the beginning and the sort of pure business after that. I thought that was great.

CS: There’s another big sequel that everyone is curious about. Dan Aykroyd is saying that it looks like “Ghostbusters 3″ will shoot early next year.
Weaver: I’m so glad! (Laughs)

CS: Are you still involved?
Weaver: Well, I have yet to read the script. I’ve had a couple of calls and I know they’re rewriting and all I said was that I hope my son, Oscar, has grown up to be a Ghostbuster and Ivan Reitman said yes. Beyond that, I have no idea. I hope it comes together, but we already did two wonderful films and, if we have to let this one go, that’s fine.

Speaking of Ghostbusters 3

Just a few days ago, I made some comments on Ghosbusters and why it was my favorite movie.  I also discussed my desire for Ghostbusters 3, and speak of the devil Dan Aykroyd made some comments today about the movie on the Dennis Miller show.  In exciting news he says the movie will be pushing forward and start filming this spring.  The biggest news is production will move forward with or without Bill Murray, often thought to be the lead of the film, and the biggest hold out on making another sequel.  Here is Aykroyd’s description on what is going on.

 

“Yes, we will be doing the movie and hopefully with Mr. Murray,” he says, “That is our hope. We have an excellent script. What we have to remember is that ‘Ghostbusters’ is bigger than any one component, although Billy was absolutely the lead and contributive to it in a massive way, as was the director and Harold [Ramis], myself and Sigourney [Weaver]. The concept is much larger than any individual role and the promise of ‘Ghostbusters 3′ is that we get to hand the equipment and the franchise down to new blood.”

 

I think this is an interesting statement on how this film will move forward.  As I said before if this film gets made, which I really hope it does, I want it to be created in a way to honor the cult classic that I love.  I want the film to expand and create an intelligent and fun world for ghostbusting to exist in, and I guess I feel like that cannot happen without all three of the original players.  I like the idea of handing the franchise over to a new batch of ghostbusters, but I don’t want to push this film on into multiple sequels of new people who are a pale comparison to the old trio.  Sometimes we need to let something be, even if it is doing a third to complete the final storyline of the original characters.  Alas, if we get a great batch of new players and we can watch the world grow and develop in an interesting and logical way, then I am in.  Either way, I will be completely excited about a new Ghostbusters film, until I am proven wrong by a bad product!

Who You Gunna Call…Improvisers!

Ghostbusters has been my favorite movie since I was a child.  It was the first movie that I ever latched on to, and you can ask my family, I literally used to watch it once a week when I was a kid.  It has forever since been my favorite, and every once in awhile when I have some time I sit down to watch it.  That is what I was doing earlier this evening to relax after a long week.  As I was watching I was wondering why I really latched onto this movie, and I think I figured it out, Ghostbusters is infused with improv.

All of the main players in the film seemed to be involved with improv in some form.  Most of them studied and performed at Second City in Chicago, or were on Saturday Night Live.  I think it was that improviser personality type that brought me into the film.  You could feel the fun and play happening, and that really appealed to me as a child and a future improviser.  That also led to a lot of the improvising that happened in the film.  We know Bill Murray is an improviser at heart, and will often add to and change lines throughout filming.  I think that is the thing that really gives these films a fun and comedic edge, the thing that takes the film to the next level.

Most of the film also sets itself up like an improv scenes.  One of my favorite scenes is right before the climax of the film.  The ghostbusters just go out of jail and were taken to the mayor of New York City’s office to discuss a solution to the paranormal problems happening.  This scene is basically an improv scene.  There is a twist to the normal world, which sets up the game of the scene; oh no ghosts are taking over our city.  The scene sets up a lot of interesting dynamics with various characters on various levels; there is a mayor, the ghostbusters, a guy for the EPA who is against the ghosbuters, a priest, and a host of other military people.  We see simple interactions occurring between the different characters and they play out in a fun and hilarious way.  I love how they continue to upend each other in a sarcastic joking ways.  The scene is buttoned when they go out to fight the ghosts surrounded by a military escort, which totally blows up the pattern.

As I have gotten more into studying improv, I’ve discovered how much I enjoy building scenes in a positive way with other people.  Ghostbusters is my favorite movie, and it is just dripping with improv.  It was really fun to watch the film, and put my improv knowledge to work evaluating the film.  With all the talk of a third film, I just hope it gets made, but only if it can be done in a way to honor and expand the original world.